Methods for inducing the differentiation of blood monocytes into functional dendritic cells

ABSTRACT

Methods are provided for treating blood monocytes to produce functional antigen presenting dendritic cells. An extracorporeal quantity of a subject&#39;s blood is treated to separate the blood and produce a leukocyte concentrate comprising monocytes and plasma containing proteins. The leukocyte concentrate comprising monocytes and plasma containing proteins is pumped through a plastic treatment device, such as a photopheresis device. The resulting treated cells may be incubated for a sufficient period of time to allow the monocytes to form dendritic cells, or the treated cells may be reinfused directly to the subject.

This continuation application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 toU.S. application Ser. No. 13/957,051 filed on Aug. 1, 2013, whichclaimed priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/771,612 filed on Apr.30, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,524,495 the entire contents of each ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for producing functionalantigen presenting dendritic cells. The dendritic cells are produced bytreating an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood using a processreferred to herein as transimmunization to induce blood monocytes todifferentiate into dendritic cells. The functional antigen presentingdendritic cells may be administered to a subject to induce cellularimmunologic responses to disease causing agents.

BACKGROUND

Dendritic cells (DCs) are recognized to be powerful antigen presentingcells for inducing cellular immunologic responses in humans, and play akey role in eliciting effective anti-tumor immune responses. DCs primeboth CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) and CD4+ T-helper (Th1) responses. DCsare capable of capturing and processing antigens, and migrating to theregional lymph nodes to present the captured antigens and induce T-cellresponses. In humans, DCs are a relatively rare component of peripheralblood (<1%), but large quantities of DCs can be differentiated fromCD34+ precursors or blood monocytes utilizing expensive cytokinecocktails. Alternatively, by treating an extracorporeal quantity ofblood using a process referred to herein as transimmunization, a largenumber of immature DCs can be induced to form from blood monocyteswithout the need for cytokine stimulation. These immature DCs caninternalize and process materials from disease effectors, such asantigens, DNA or other cellular materials, to induce cellularimmunologic responses to disease effectors. By exposing increasednumbers of dendritic cells to cellular material, such as for exampleantigens from tumor or other disease-causing cells, followed byreintroduction of the loaded dendritic cells to the patient,presentation of the cellular material to responding T-cells can beenhanced significantly.

For example, one in vitro method previously used involves culturingblood mononuclear leukocytes for six to eight days in the presence ofgranulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) andinterleukin-4 (IL-4) to produce large numbers of dendritic cells. Thesecells can then be externally loaded with tumor-derived peptide antigensfor presentation to T-cells. Alternatively, the dendritic cells can betransduced to produce and present these antigens themselves. Expandingpopulations of dendritic cells transduced to produce and secretecytokines which recruit and activate other mononuclear leukocytes,including T-cells, has shown some clinical efficacy in generatinganti-tumor immune responses.

However, transducing cultivated dendritic cells to produce a particulargeneric antigen and/or additional cytokines is labor intensive andexpensive. More importantly, when used to treat a disease such ascancer, this procedure likely fails to produce and present thosemultiple tumor antigens that may be most relevant to the individual'sown cancer. Several approaches have been proposed to overcome thisproblem. Hybridization of cultivated autologous dendritic cells withtumor cells would produce tetraploid cells capable of processing andpresenting multiple unknown tumor antigens. In a second proposedapproach, acid elution of Class I and Class II major histocompatabilitycomplexes (MHC) from the surface of malignant cells would liberate abroad spectrum of tumor-derived peptides. These liberated peptides couldthen be externally loaded onto MHC complexes of autologous cultivateddendritic cells.

Because there are limitations to each of these approaches, an improvedmethod of producing functional antigen presenting dendritic cells andfor loading the dendritic cells with cellular material from diseasecausing agents is desirable. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,524,855, 6,607,722 and7,109,031, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporatedby reference, methods of producing increased numbers of functionaldendritic cells are described. The methods described in these patentsgenerally involve exposure of blood monocytes to internal surfaces of aplastic treatment device. As the blood monocytes flow past the plasticsurface of the treatment device, interaction with the plastic surfaceinduces differentiation of the monocytes into dendritic cells. Thedendritic cells may then be incubated with apoptotic disease cells toproduce antigen presenting dendritic cells. These methods typicallyproduce mature dendritic cells which can be used to enhance the immuneresponse to disease cells.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/290,802, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference, methods of producingimmunosuppressive dendritic cells are described. Dendritic cells areproduced by treating monocytes in a plastic treatment device asdescribed above. The maturation of the dendritic cells is truncated at astage where the dendritic cells are immunosuppressive.

While the methods described in these references are effective inproducing relatively large numbers of dendritic cells, it would bedesirable to have a process that further increases the number ofdendritic cells produced from a quantity of a patient's blood. It wouldalso be desirable to control the process to produce the desired types ofdendritic cells (i.e. immune enhancing or immunosuppressive).

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide methodsto produce large quantities of dendritic cells having desiredfunctionality as immune enhancing or immunosuppressive. Other objectivesand advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilledin the art based upon the description of preferred embodiments set forthbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A large number of immature dendritic cells are created by treating aquantity of a patient's blood containing monocytes by flowing the bloodthrough narrow plastic channels in a process referred to herein astransimmunization. The monocytes interact with the surface of theplastic treatment device and/or serum proteins and platelets adhered tothe walls of the plastic treatment device. The interaction of themonocytes with the surfaces and/or serum proteins and platelets inducesthe monocytes to differentiate to form functional dendritic cells.

In a first aspect, the methods of the invention comprise pumpingextracorporeal blood from a patient through a plastic treatment device,such as for example a conventional photopheresis device. The serumproteins in the blood, such as fibronectin and fibrinogen, adhere to thewalls of the plastic treatment device, and monocytes in the bloodinteract with the plastic surfaces and the adhered serum proteins toinduce monocyte differentiation.

In another aspect, the methods of the invention comprise separating theplasma containing proteins from the fraction containing blood monocytes.The plasma containing proteins, such as fibronectin and fibrinogen, isfirst pumped through the plastic treatment device to coat the surfacesof the treatment device with proteins. The fraction containing monocytesis then pumped through the plastic treatment device. This increases theexposure of the monocytes to proteins adhered to the walls of theplastic treatment device to enhance differentiation of the monocytesinto dendritic cells.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method of treating aextracorporeal quantity of blood by first separating the blood in aleukapheresis device and pumping the separated blood componentssequentially through a plastic treatment device. In this embodiment ofthe invention, an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood isobtained and treated by leukapheresis to separate the blood into aplasma component containing proteins, a platelet component and a buffycoat component. A plastic treatment device having channels is used totreat the blood components. The plastic treatment device may allowtransmittance of light to the interior of the plastic device and includea light source that produces light of a wavelength selected to activatea photoactivatable agent.

The plasma component containing proteins is first pumped through theplastic treatment device to coat the surface of the device with plasmaproteins, including fibronectin and fibrinogen. The plasma proteinsadhere to the walls of the plastic treatment device. The flow rate ofthe plasma component through the plastic treatment device is controlledto obtain a desired level of protein adherence to the plastic surfaces.If desired, the flow can be stopped for a period of time and the plasmacomponent can “soak” the surfaces of the plastic treatment device.

The platelet component is next pumped through the plastic treatmentdevice. The platelets interact with the plastic treatment device and theproteins adhered to the walls of the plastic treatment device. The flowrate of the platelet component through the plastic treatment device iscontrolled to obtain a desired level of platelet interaction. Ifdesired, the flow can be stopped for a period of time and the plateletcomponent can “soak” in the plastic treatment device.

Finally, the buffy coat component containing monocytes is pumped throughthe plastic treatment device. The monocytes interact with the plateletsand plasma proteins to induce a high percentage of the monocytes todifferentiate into functional dendritic cells. The flow rate of themonocytes through the plastic treatment device is controlled to obtainthe desired level of monocyte interaction with the proteins andplatelets on the surface of the plastic treatment device. By controllingthe flow rate through the treatment device and the amount of light towhich the cells are exposed, the maturation of the dendritic cellsproduced can be controlled to obtain dendritic cells having the desiredfunctionality.

The treated buffy coat component may, if desired, be incubated for asufficient time to allow the formation of functional dendritic cells,and then be reinfused to the patient. In one embodiment, the treatedcells may be incubated at a temperature of between 35 degrees to 40degrees Centigrade for a period of up to 48 hours.

In yet another aspect, the treated monocytes are co-incubated withapoptotic disease effector cells before reinfusing the cells to thepatient. The disease effector cells may be rendered apoptotic bytreating the extracorporeal quantity of blood with a photoactivatableagent, for example a psoralen such as 8-MOP, and exposing the blood toan appropriate wavelength of light as the blood passes through theplastic treatment device. Alternatively, The disease effector agents maybe rendered apoptotic separately and added to the treated monocytes forco-incubation. The dendritic cells formed from the treated monoyctesphagocitize the apoptotic disease effector cells. Followingco-incubation, the antigen loaded dendritic cells may be infused to thepatient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic channel containing a bloodmonocyte from the subject's blood illustrating a CTCL cell with a classI associated antigen, and a blood monocyte.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic channel containing thesubject's blood illustrating a blood monocyte adhered to the wall of theplastic channel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic channel containing thesubject's blood illustrating a blood monocyte partially adhered to thewall of the channel.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of dendritic cell produced by differentiationof a blood monocyte by the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a dendritic cell which has been reinfusedinto the subject's bloodstream presenting a class 1 associated peptideantigen to a T-cell.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the class 1 associated peptide antigenpresented on the surface of the dendritic cell as it is received by acomplementary receptor site on the T-cell.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a clone of the activated T-cell attacking adisease-causing cell displaying the class 1 associated peptide antigen.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a plastic treatment apparatus which may be usedto induce monocyte differentiation into functional antigen presentingdendritic cells.

FIG. 9 is a view of cross section A-A of the plastic treatment apparatusof FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to improved methods of producingfunctional dendritic cells from blood monocytes. Monocytedifferentiation may be induced by physical perturbation resulting frominteraction with plastic surfaces, interaction with blood componentsadhered to the surfaces of a plastic treatment device, or both phenomenaworking in a complementary manner.

As described previously in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,109,031, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety,monocyte differentiation may be initiated by exposing the monocytescontained in an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood to thephysical forces resulting from the sequential adhesion and release ofthe monocytes on plastic surfaces, such as the surfaces of the channelsof a conventional photopheresis device or another type of plastictreatment device designed for this process. Monocytes are attracted tothe plastic channel walls of the photopheresis apparatus, and themonocytes adhere to the channel walls. The fluid flow through thechannel imposes shearing forces on the adhered monocytes that cause themonocytes to be released from the plastic channel walls. Accordingly, asthe monocytes pass through the photopheresis apparatus, they may undergoseveral episodes of adherence to and release from the plastic channelwalls. These physical forces send activation signals though the monocytecell membrane, which results in induction of differentiation ofmonocytes into immature dendritic cells that are phagocytic.

In another embodiment of the invention, monocyte differentiation isinduced utilizing the adherence of certain serum proteins to the plastictreatment device, such as, for example, fibronectins, fibrinogen orvibronectins, to induce differentiation of the monocytes. Monocytedifferentiation into dendritic cells can be initiated by signalsreceived through the cell membrane. Fibronectins, fibrinogen andvibronectins are proteins contained in plasma of the bloodstream. Theseserum proteins can provide signals to monocytes, after binding monocytemembrane receptors, helping to stimulate monocyte differentiation intodendritic cells. In vivo, one of the functions of proteins such asfibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin is to adhere to the cells liningthe inner surface of blood vessels. As blood containing monocytes flowspast the protein bearing vessel wall, monocytes contained in the bloodcome into contact with and adhere to the protein, an initial stepcontributing to the capacity of these white blood cells to leave theblood vessels and migrate into the surrounding tissue. The monocytesaccomplish this migration by pulling themselves, by a process known as“diapedesis,” between the endothelial cells which line the capillariesand other blood vessels. The transmigratory process, abetted by thebinding of fibronectins, fibrinogen vibronectins and related proteins,to monocyte membrane receptors, contributes to the maturation ofmonocytes into dendritic antigen presenting cells, capable ofstimulating often specific immune reactions.

It has been discovered that serum proteins such as fibronectin,fibrinogen and vibronectin contained in blood plasma will also adhere tothe surface of plastics, such as those used in a photopheresis device orin a plastic treatment device constructed to treat blood in thetransimmunization process as described further below. The fibronectin,fibrinogen and vibronectin adhered on the surface of the plastictransmits signals to monocytes flowing past the proteins causing themonocytes to differentiate into dendritic cells. The differentiation ofmonocytes is enhanced in the transimmunization process because of thelarge plastic surface accessible to a large number of monocytes procuredthrough this extracorporeal procedure. The interaction of the passagedmonocytes to the proteins adherent to the plastic surface is reminiscentof the in vivo interaction of monocytes with proteins adherent toendothelial cells of blood vessels. Similarly, the stimulation ofmonocyte maturation into dendritic cells through such interaction withserum proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen or vibronectin coatingthe surface of the plastic treatment device is reminiscent of the invivo maturation of monocytes into dendritic cells, as contributed to bythis process in intact mammals. As a result, a large number of processedblood monocytes can be stimulated to become dendritic cells, enteringthis maturational pathway within one day after being so processed. Thesenewly formed dendritic cells have various therapeutic uses, enhanced bythe synchronicity of their level of maturation. It should be noted thatthis process may work in conjunction with, and be complementary to,physical perturbation of the monocytes in the treatment device to inducedifferentiation of blood monocytes into dendritic cells.

Because serum proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectinare abundantly found in plasma, the plastic surfaces of the device usedfor the transimmunization procedure are readily exposed to the proteinsduring the photopheresis process. To coat the plastic surface withproteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin, it isimportant that the blood containing plasma be pumped through thetreatment device. Monocytes can be simultaneously pumped through thetreatment device together with the plasma containing the serum proteins.Alternatively, the monocytes can be separated from the plasma, and theplasma may be pumped through the treatment device to condition theplastic surface with proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen andvibronectin. The proteins adhere to the surface of the plastic, and themonocytes are then pumped through the treatment device and pass close tothe protein conditioned plastic. The monocytes receive a signal from theproteins to contribute to their differentiation into functionaldendritic cells.

In one embodiment, an extracorporeal quantity of blood is obtained froma subject. The extracorporeal quantity of blood is treated byconventional leukapheresis as described above to obtain a leukocyteconcentrate comprising monocytes and plasma containing proteinsincluding fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin. The monocytes andprotein containing plasma are pumped together through a plastictreatment device (for example, a photopheresis device or a plastictreatment apparatus of the type described below). In this embodiment,the treatment conditions, such as flow rates, temperatures and treatmenttimes, are typically similar to those used in conventionalphotopheresis. Flow rates may range from 10 ml/minute to 200 ml/minuteto produce shearing forces in the treatment device of between 0.1dynes/cm² to 50 dynes/cm². It is understood, however, that one skilledin the art may alter these parameters as appropriate to achieve adesired result.

At least some of the proteins contained in the plasma adhere to theplastic surfaces and interact with passing monocytes. The proteins, inparticular the fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin, signal themonocytes to differentiate and form dendritic cells. Following treatmentin the treatment device, the monocytes may be reinfused to the patientor may be incubated for variable times, up to three days. As describedbelow, the monocytes may be coincubated with disease effector cells thathave been rendered apoptotic or inactive to allow the dendritic cells tophagocytize the disease effector cells. The incubated monocytes may beadministered to the subject or frozen for later use.

In another embodiment of the invention, a treatment device is firstconditioned using blood plasma obtained from a subject to coat thesurface of the device with serum proteins including fibronectin,fibrinogen and vibronectin. In this embodiment, the extracorporealquantity of blood is first treated using a leukapheresis device toobtain a leukocyte concentrate. The leukocyte concentrate is thenfurther treated to separate the blood cells, including the monocytes,from the plasma. This treatment step can be performed using anytechnique known to those skilled in the art, such as for example usingcentrifugal elutriation, a density gradient or by immunoselection.

The plasma component containing proteins including fibronectin,fibrinogen and/or vibronectin is pumped through the treatment device tocondition the plastic surfaces of the device with the proteins. Thequantity of plasma pumped through the device is selected to achieve adesired level of fibronectin, fibrinogen and/or vibronectin adhered tothe plastic surface. The can be determined based upon the concentrationof the proteins in the plasma and the surface area of the plasticsurface. In this embodiment, the plasma is pumped through the treatmentdevice under conditions (temperature, flow rates, volumes, etc.) such asthose described above. It is understood, however, that one skilled inthe art may alter these parameters as required to achieve a desiredresult. At least some of the fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin inthe plasma adheres to the plastic surface. Monocytes obtained from theextracorporeal quantity of blood are then pumped through the treatmentdevice where they are exposed to the proteins adhered to the surface ofthe plastic. The fibronectin, fibrinogen and vibronectin signals themonocytes to differentiate and form dendritic cells. After passingthrough the treatment device, the monocytes may be incubated to allowdifferentiation of the monocytes to proceed. If desired, the monocytesmay be co-incubated with disease effector cells that have been renderedapoptotic or inactive as described above. The incubated monocytes may beadministered to the subject or frozen for later use.

In another embodiment of the invention, an extracorporeal quantity ofblood is treated by leukapheresis to separate the blood into threecomponents, the plasma, the platelets and the buffy coat. The plasma,which contains proteins such as fibronectin and fibrinogen, is thelightest blood fraction, and therefore is the first portion of the bloodselectively removed from the centrifuge and passaged through the plasticplates of the treatment device. The proteins in the plasma, such asfibronectin and fibrinogen, adhere to and coat the surfaces of theplastic treatment device. By controlling the speed of the pump thatpropels the plasma through the plate, the degree of coating of theplastic treatment device can be controlled. To increase the degree ofcoating, the pump may be operated to slow the flow of the plasma throughthe treatment device. If desired, the pump may be stopped to allow theplasma proteins to remain in the plastic treatment device for anextended time and adhere to the surfaces of the plastic treatmentdevice. In one embodiment, the plasma is exposed to the plastic surfacesin the treatment device for a period between about 1 to 60 minutes. Toenhance plasma protein adherence to the plastic surfaces of the plate,the flow may be temporarily discontinued (for up to 60 minutes), beforeresumption, or the flow rate may be slowed from the filling rate (up to100 ml/minute) to as low as 5 ml/minute, during this phase of theprocedure. This, and the other relevant variations in flow ratedescribed for the other phases of the process, is a major departure fromthe steady rapid flow rates currently operative in extracorporealphotopheresis (ECP).

After the plasma has been pumped through the plastic treatment deviceand the plastic surfaces have been coated with proteins, the secondlightest component in the leukapheresis centrifuge, the plateletfraction, is pumped into and through the plastic treatment device. Theplatelets bind either directly to the plastic surfaces of the plastictreatment device or to the proteins which have adhered to the surface ofthe plastic treatment device, in particular to the fibrinogen orfibronectin. It is noteworthy that both of these proteins, as well asseveral others, contain repetitive tripeptide segments (RGD orarginine-glycine-aspartic acid), for which platelets have specificreceptors. The platelets are then pumped through the plastic treatmentdevice at a rate that maximizes binding of the platelets to the protein.The flow rate may be adjusted upward or downward, or flow may be stoppedfor a period of time, to obtain the desired level of platelets bound tothe protein. Typically, it will be desirable to allow 5-30 minutes forthe platelets to bind to the proteins.

The third lightest fraction to be eluted from the leukapheresiscentrifuge is the buffy coat, which contains the white blood cells,including the blood monocytes. The buffy coat including the monocytes ispumped through the treatment device next. The monocytes bear receptorsfor the adherent platelets, which hence serve as a bridge between themonocytes and the proteins adhered to the plastic surface, or theplastic surface itself. As the monocytes flow through the treatmentdevice, they alternately bind to and disadhere from the platelets by theshearing force induced by the flow through the treatment device. Theresidence time of the monocyte/platelet interaction may be controlled byvarying the speed of the pump. For example, the pump may initially beoperated at a slow speed to enhance monocyte/platelet interaction, andthe speed may then be increased to facilitate disadherence andcollection of the treated monocytes from the treatment device. Adherenceof the monocytes to the platelets may be best accomplished at 0.1 to 0.5dynes/cm², while disadherence and collection of the monocytes may bebest accomplished at increased shear levels of 1 to 50 dynes/cm².

The flow rate through the treatment device will also effect thedifferentiation of the monocytes into dendritic cells. A flow gradientis created in the channel in the plastic treatment device as the bloodis pumped through. At lower flow rates, there will be a slower flow zonenear the plate parallel surfaces in the treatment device. As a result,the monocytes closer to the plates in the treatment device will havesubstantially more interaction with the plastic-adherent platelets andproteins than the more rapidly flowing monocytes towards the center ofthe flow passage between the plates. The monocytes will alternately bindto and disadhere from the platelets. Maturation of monocytes intodendritic cells is greatly enhanced by this interaction, with increasedexposure to the platelets thereby providing increased signaling of thismaturational process.

As discussed further below, a photoactivatable agent, for example apsoralen such as 8-MOP, may be added to the blood before leukapheresisor to the buffy coat after leukaphereis, and the buffy coat componentmay be exposed to ultraviolet light to render disease cells in the buffycoat apoptotic. Since exposure to the ultraviolet energy, inherent inconventional ECP and Transimmunization, is greatest for those monocytesclosest to the plastic surfaces, the monocytes receiving the largestlevel of interaction with the adherent platelets are also the onesreceiving the largest exposure to ultraviolet energy and, therefore, thelargest exposure to the photoactivated chemical agent, such as8-methoxypsoralen. The photoactivated drug then truncates the maturationof the exposed monocytes, thereby tending to increase the percentage ofinduced “immature” dendritic cells. This is important, since theimmature dendritic cells, displaying relatively low levels ofco-stimulatory molecules (such as CD80 and CD86) can be efficientdown-regulatory, or immunosuppressive, leukocytes. Conversely, monocytesthat flow through the middle region of the flow passage mature moreslowly, but more completely, since their exposure to the adherentplatelets is lower, as is their exposure to the maturationallytruncating photo-activated drug. The dendritic cells derived from thissubset of monocytes become high expressers of the co-stimulatorymolecules and evolve into immunostimulatory dendritic cells, moreeffective in vaccination against the antigens that they present toresponding T cells.

Hence, by controlling the amount of light, flow rates and psoralencontent, the types of dendritic cells formed can be controlled. Forexample, if the monocytes are treated without any light or psoralen, thedendritic cells will mature and become immunizing. Alternatively, if theflow rate is slow and the monocytes are exposed to psoralen and light,immunosuppressive dendritic cells will be formed. This extracorporealsystem can, therefore, produce exceptionally finely titrated results.

While not being bound to any particular mechanism of action, applicantbelieves that non-activated platelets bind to the γ chain of proteins,particularly fibrinogen, activating the α₅β₁ and α_(IIB)β₃ integrins.Once firmly bound to the fibrinogen, the platelets express P-selectin,the ligand for PSGL-1 on inactive monocytes. The platelets bridge themonocytes to the proteins such as fibrinogen. The activated platelets,which express fibronectin and fibrinogen, can then further activate themonocytes.

EXAMPLE

An example of the embodiment described above is provided. It isdesirable to produce and reintroduce to the patient a necessary numberof mature dendritic cells, induced from processing of the particularpatient's monocytes in the plastic treatment device. The positive impactof the sequential layering onto the plastic surface of the necessarycomponents, followed by the elution of the incipient DC, can be moreeffectively accomplished by modification of resident times in theplastic treatment device, variation of flow rates through the plastictreatment device and control of when the ultraviolet energy is turned onor off to render disease cells apoptotic.

In conventional photopheresis, the flow rate is constant and the lightsare on for the large majority of the blood processing. In the embodimentdescribed above, after the extracorporeal blood is separated into threecomponents or fractions (plasma, platelets and buffy coat), the plasmafraction is first be allowed to fill the plastic treatment device andremain static for about fifteen minutes. This permits more efficientlayering of the parallel plastic surfaces with important fibrinogen,fibronectin, vitronectin and osteopontin, as well as other contributoryproteins, containing components which bind and activate platelets. Ofspecial importance, for example, fibrinogen contains a gamma chain forwhich passaged resting platelets have avid receptors.

After permitting sufficient time for adherence of the plasma proteins, aplatelet-rich fraction will then similarly be pumped into the plastictreatment device and permitted to remain static for about fifteenminutes, to enhance the adherence of platelets to the plasma proteinsand activation of the platelets. Once activated, these adherentplatelets quickly strengthen their binding to relevant proteins,prominently through the binding of platelet membrane integrin receptorsto repeating in tripeptide RGD segments displayed in the adherentproteins. The tightly adherent activated platelets quickly expressmembrane p-selectin.

The monocyte-enriched fraction is next passed through the plastictreatment device at a flow rate of about 15 cc/min to create acontinuous flow force of about 0.6 dyne/cc². This is considerably lessthan the shear force created by the currently operative photopheresisflow rate of 40 cc/min. This flow rate and shear force enables maximaladherence and stimulation of the passaged monocytes and approximatelydoubles the efficiency of conversion of monocytes-to-DC (>60% as opposedto about 30%). Finally, after the full volume of the monocyte fractionhas been so passaged, the flow rate is increased to a preferred 60cc/min or greater, causing maximal dissociation of adhered monocytesfrom the plastic treatment device, and therefore maximal harvesting ofthe incipient DC. These newly formed DC can then either be immediatelyreinfused into the patient or, prior to re-administration, they can befurther processed ex vivo, such as by loading them with immunogenicantigens (e.g. those expressed on apoptotic tumor cells or pathogenicinfectious agents), stunting their maturation with photoactivated 8-MOP(increasing their immunomodulating efficiency in auto-immune clinicalsituations) or enhancing their maturation (increasing their efficiencyin cancer immunotherapy).

By using the methods of the present invention described above, a largenumber of healthy dendritic cells can be formed having virtually thesame maturity. When these dendritic cells are coincubated with apoptoticdisease cells or other sources of antigens, the dendritic cells willdisplay the antigens to induce a desired immune response. It is thecombination of forming a large number of similarly mature dendriticcells and the incubation of these cells for a sufficient period of timewith the apoptotic disease cells or antigen source that produces antigenpresenting dendritic cells that are particularly effective intherapeutic use. By inducing the monocytes to differentiate intodendritic cells without using a photoactivatable drug and light, theresulting dendritic cells are particularly healthy and effective for usein immunotherapeutic applications.

In another embodiment, an extracorporeal quantity of blood from asubject is obtained for treatment. If desired, the blood may be treatedby leukapheresis to obtain a white blood cell concentrate comprisingmonocytes, disease effector cells and plasma containing protein. Aphotoactivatable agent, such as for example 8-MOP, is added to theblood. The plasma containing protein is first pumped through the plastictreatment device to coat the plastic surfaces with proteins. The whiteblood cell concentrate is then passed through a plastic treatment devicehaving narrow channels as described above that is capable of allowinglight to pass through the walls of the device and enter the blood. Flowrates may be controlled and varied as described above. The plastictreatment device is arranged with a light source providing the lightnecessary to activate the photoactivatable agent. In a preferredembodiment, the plastic treatment device is a photopheresis device.

During the passage of approximately the first half of the blood throughthe plastic device, the light source is turned off or the light isotherwise shielded from the treatment device to prevent light fromactivating the photoactivatable agent, such as by a metal foil or otheropaque material that will block light. During this time, monocytes inthe blood interact with the internal surfaces of the device, includingproteins bound to the surfaces, to induce differentiation of themonocytes into dendritic cells. Because the light source is turned offduring this portion of the process, the photoactivatable agent is notactivated and the monocytes are not affected in any way by thephotoactivatable agent. The treated blood is stored in a blood bagfollowing treatment.

After approximately half of the blood is passed through the plastictreatment device, the light source is turned on and the remainder of theblood is exposed to light as it passes through the treatment device.This activates the photoactivatable agent causing apoptosis of diseasecausing lymphocytes in the blood. While the photoactivatable agent doesnot induce apoptosis of all monocytes in the second portion of theblood, it may influence the development of the monocytes into dendriticcells. After passage and exposure of the second portion of the blood tothe photoactivated drug in the exposure plate, this portion of the bloodmay be stored in a second blood bag following treatment, or it may beplaced directly in the blood bag containing the first portion of thetreated blood. Where a second blood bag is used, the two portions oftreated blood are then combined in a single bag for incubation or forreinfusion into the patient without incubation.

In another embodiment, an extracorporeal quantity of blood from asubject is segregated into two approximately equal volumes. The bloodmay be treated prior to segregation by leukapheresis to obtain a whiteblood cell concentrate comprising monocytes, disease effector cells andplasma containing protein. The first volume of blood is treated in aplastic treatment device without a photoactivatable agent to begininduction of the differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cells. Theplasma containing protein is first pumped through the plastic treatmentdevice to coat the plastic surfaces with proteins. The white blood cellconcentrate is then pumped through the plastic treatment device. Flowrates may be controlled and varied as described above. Followingtreatment, the first volume of blood is stored in a first blood bag. Thesecond volume of blood is separately treated to render disease effectorcells in the volume of blood apoptotic. The disease effector cells maybe rendered apoptotic by any of the methods described in thisapplication. In a preferred embodiment, the disease effector cells arerendered apoptotic by adding 8-MOP to the second volume of blood andthen exposing the second volume of blood to light, as in a photopheresisdevice. Following treatment, the second volume of blood is stored in asecond blood bag. After both volumes of blood have been treated, the twovolumes are combined and incubated as described above.

Following treatment of the monocytes using any of the embodimentsdescribed above, the resulting dendritic cells may be reinfused directlyto the patient, or the dendritic cells may be incubated with apoptoticdisease effector agents to produce antigen presenting dendritic cells.As used herein, the term “disease effector agents” refers to agents thatare central to the causation of a disease state in a subject. In certaincircumstances, these disease effector agents are disease-causing cellswhich may be circulating in the bloodstream, thereby making them readilyaccessible to extracorporeal manipulations and treatments. Examples ofsuch disease-causing cells include malignant T-cells, malignant B cells,T-cells and B cells which mediate an autoimmune response, and virally orbacterially infected white blood cells which express on their surfaceviral or bacterial peptides or proteins. Exemplary disease categoriesgiving rise to disease-causing cells include leukemia, lymphoma,autoimmune disease, graft versus host disease, and tissue rejection.Disease associated antigens which mediate these disease states and whichare derived from disease-causing cells include peptides that bind to aMHC Class I site, a MHC Class II site, or to a heat shock protein whichis involved in transporting peptides to and from MHC sites (i.e., achaperone). Disease associated antigens also include viral or bacterialpeptides which are expressed on the surface of infected white bloodcells, usually in association with an MHC Class I or Class II molecule.

Other disease-causing cells include those isolated from surgicallyexcised specimens from solid tumors, such as lung, colon, brain, kidneyor skin cancers. These cells can be manipulated extracorporeally inanalogous fashion to blood leukocytes, after they are brought intosuspension or propagated in tissue culture. Alternatively, in someinstances, it has been shown that the circulating blood of patients withsolid tumors can contain malignant cells that have broken off from thetumors and entered the circulation. [Kraeft, et al., Detection andanalysis of cancer cells in blood and bone marrow using a rare eventimaging system, Clinical Cancer Research, 6:434-42, 2000.] Thesecirculating tumor cells can provide an easily accessible source ofcancer cells which may be isolated, rendered apopototic and engulfed bythe dendritic cells in accordance with the method described and claimedherein.

In addition to disease-causing cells, disease effector agents fallingwithin the scope of the invention further include microbes such asbacteria, fungi and viruses which express disease-associated antigens.It should be understood that viruses can be engineered to be“incomplete”, i.e., produce distinguishing disease-causing antigenswithout being able to function as an actual infectious agent, and thatsuch “incomplete” viruses fall within the meaning of the term “diseaseeffector agents” as used herein.

In one embodiment of the methods described herein, the disease effectoragents are presented to the dendritic cells after being renderedapoptotic. As discussed above, disease effector cells contained in theextracorporeal quantity of blood may be rendered apoptotic by adding aphotoactivatable agent, such as 8-MOP, to the blood and exposing theblood to light during all or part of the treatment of the blood.Alternatively, disease effector cells may be isolated separately andtreated to render them apoptotic. Any method of isolating disease cellsand rendering the cells apoptotic that is known to those skilled in theart may be used. For example, disease effector agents such as cancercells may be isolated by surgical excision of cells from a patient.Blood borne disease effector cells may be isolated from anextracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood and the isolated cells maybe treated to induce apoptosis.

Apoptosis may be induced by adding photo-activated drugs to the diseasecells and exposing the cells to light. Cell death can also be induced byexposure of cells to ionizing radiation, for example by exposure togamma radiation or x-rays utilizing devices routinely available in ahospital setting. Cancer cells may be rendered apoptotic by addition ofsynthetic peptides with the arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif cellsuspensions of the disease-causing cells isolated from the patient'sblood, from excised solid tumors or tissue cultures of the same. RGD hasbeen shown (Nature, Volume 397, pages 534-539, 1999) to induce apoptosisin tumor cells, possibly by triggering pro-capase-3 autoprocessing andactivation. Similarly, apoptosis could be induced in cells having Fasreceptors, by stimulating with antibodies directed against thisreceptor, in this way sending signals to the inside of the cell toinitiate programmed cell death, in the same way that normally Fas liganddoes. In addition, apoptosis can be induced by subjectingdisease-causing cells to heat or cold shock, certain viral infections(i.e., influenza virus), or bacterial toxins. Alternatively, certaininfectious agents such as influenza virus can cause apoptosis and couldbe used to accomplish this purpose in cell suspensions ofdisease-causing cells.

The apoptotic cells are exposed to the dendritic cells produced asdescribed above, which internalize and process the cellular material. Inone embodiment of the invention, the apoptotic cells are produced duringthe photopheresis procedure through the use of the drug8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A light and are collected in anincubation bag with the immature dendritic cells, and the apoptoticcells are phagocytosed by the dendritic cells during the incubationperiod. The resulting dendritic cells are then administered to thepatient to induce an immune response to the disease causing agent.

Inducing monocytes to form dendritic cells by these methods offersseveral advantages for immunotherapeutic treatment. Because all of thedendritic cells are formed from the monocytes within a very short periodof time, the dendritic cells are all of approximately the same age andmaturation. Dendritic cells will phagocytize apoptotic cells during adistinct period early in their life cycle. In addition, the antigenspresent in the phagocytized apoptotic cells are processed and presentedat the surface of the dendritic cells during a later distinct period. Bycreating dendritic cells with a relatively narrow age profile, themethod of the present invention provides an enhanced number of dendriticcells capable of phagocitizing apoptotic disease effector agents andsubsequently presenting antigens from those disease effector agents foruse in immunotherapeutic treatment.

As discussed above, the treated monocytes may be sequestered forincubation either with or without apoptotic disease effector cells. Whenthe treated monocytes are incubated in the presence of apoptotic cellsdelivered to the dendritic cells, the incubation period allows thedendritic cells forming and maturing in the blood concentrate to be inrelatively close proximity to the apoptotic cells, thereby increasingthe likelihood that the apoptotic cells will be engulfed and processedby the dendritic cells. A standard blood bag may be utilized forincubation of the monocytes. However, it has been found to beparticularly advantageous to use a blood bag of the type which does notleach substantial amounts of plasticizer and which is sufficientlyporous to permit exchange of gases, particularly CO₂ and O₂. Such bagsare available from, for example, the Fenwall division of BaxterHealthcare Corp. under the name Amicus™ Apheresis Kit. Variousplasticizer-free blood bags are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,686,768 and 5,167,657, the disclosures of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

The treated blood cell concentrate and disease effector agents areincubated for a period of time sufficient to maximize the number offunctional antigen presenting dendritic cells in the incubated cellpopulation. Typically, the treated blood cell concentrate and diseaseeffector agents are incubated for a period of from about 1 to about 24hours, with the preferred incubation time extending over a period offrom about 12 to about 24 hours. Additional incubation time may benecessary to fully mature the loaded DC prior to reintroduction to thesubject. Preferably, the blood cell concentrate and disease effectoragents are incubated at a temperature of between 35 degrees Centigradeand 40 degrees Centigrade. In a particularly preferred embodiment, theincubation is performed at about 37 degrees Centigrade. By treatingmonocytes in the manner described above and then incubating the treatedcell population with the disease effector agents, a large number offunctional antigen presenting dendritic cells can be obtained. Theactivated monocytes produce natural cytokines which aid in thedifferentiation of the monocytes into dendritic cells. Alternatively, abuffered culture medium may be added to the blood bag and one or morecytokines, such as GM-CSF and IL-4, during the incubation period.Maturation cocktails (typically consisting of combinations of ligandssuch as CD4OL; cytokines such as interferon gamma, TNF alpha,interleukin 1 or prostaglandin E2; or stimulatory bacterial products)may be added to ensure production of fully functional mature DC.

The application of one embodiment of the method described above isillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate treatment ofindividual cells, but it should be understood that in practice aplurality of blood monocytes will be converted to dendritic cells, andthat the plurality of dendritic cells will interact with a plurality ofT-cells. Referring to FIG. 1, a plastic channel 10 contains a quantityof the subject's blood, or the blood cell concentrate if the subject'sblood is first treated by leukapheresis. The blood contains bloodmonocytes 12 and is pumped through the plastic channel to inducedifferentiation of the monocytes into dendritic cells. The blood mayalso contain disease effector agents, such as, for example, a CTCL cell14 with a class I associated antigen 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, as the subject's blood is pumped though the plasticchannel, monocytes 12 adhere to the inner walls 15 of the plasticchannel 10, either directly or by interacting with proteins and/orplatelets adhered to the plastic channel. Shear forces are imposed onthe adhered monocytes by the fluid flowing past the monocytes and, asshown in FIG. 3, the monocytes 12 become dislodged from the wall 15. Asthe monocytes flow through the plastic channel, they may undergo severalepisodes of adherence and removal from the channel walls. As a result ofthe forces experienced by the monocyte, activation signals aretransmitted which cause the monocyte to differentiate and form animmature dendritic cell 20, illustrated in FIG. 4. As discussed above,in one embodiment, the plastic channel is part of a conventionalphotopheresis apparatus.

As discussed above, after the blood has been passed through the plasticchannel, the subject's blood may be incubated in the presence of diseaseeffector agents, such as for example apoptotic cancer cells, to allowphagocytosis of the apoptotic cells and subsequent maturation of thedendritic cells. As the dendritic cell continues to mature during theincubation period, it processes the apoptotic cells. Although notlimiting to the present invention, the inventors believe that by the endof the incubation period, the dendritic cell has digested the apoptoticcells, processed the proteins obtained from the apoptotic cellularmaterials, and is presenting those antigens at the surface of thedendritic cell. After the incubation period, the composition containingthe antigen presenting dendritic cells is reinfused into the subject forimmunotherapy.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate the dendritic cellafter reinfusion into the subject's blood stream, the dendritic cell 22presents at its surface antigens 16 from the cellular material to ahealthy T-cell 24 which has a receptor site 26 for the antigen 16. Whenthe healthy T-cell 24 receives the antigen from the dendritic cell, asshown in FIG. 6, the healthy T-cell is activated and induces theformation of T-cell clones which will recognize and attack diseaseeffectors displaying the antigen. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, thehealthy T-cell clones 24 of the subject's immune system are triggered torecognize the antigen displayed by the disease effector agent, and toattack and kill disease cells 26 in the subject which display the sameantigen.

Inducing monocyte differentiation according to the method describedabove provides dendritic cells in numbers which equal or exceed thenumbers of dendritic cells that are obtained by expensive and laboriousculture of leukocytes in the presence of cytokines such as GM-CSF andIL-4 for seven or more days. The large numbers of functional dendriticcells generated by the method described above provide a ready means ofpresenting selected material, such as, for example, apoptotic cells,disease agents, antigens, plasmids, DNA or a combination thereof, andare thereby conducive to efficient immunotherapy. Antigen preparationsselected to elicit a particular immune response may be derived from, forexample, tumors, disease-causing non-malignant cells, or microbes suchas bacteria, viruses and fungi. The antigen-loaded dendritic cells canbe used as immunogens by reinfusing the cells into the subject or byotherwise administering the cells in accordance with methods known toelicit an immune response, such as subcutaneous, intradermal orintramuscular injection. As described below, it is also possible togenerate antigen-loaded dendritic cells by treating and co-incubatingmonocytes and disease effector agents which are capable of expressingdisease associated antigens.

As discussed above, monocyte differentiation is induced by pumping ablood leukocyte preparation containing monocytes through a plastictreatment apparatus. The plastic treatment apparatus used to treat themonocytes to induce monocyte differentiation may be a conventionalphotopheresis apparatus or alternatively may be a device comprised ofany plastic material to which the monocytes will transiently adhere andthat is biocompatible with blood leukocyte cells. Examples of materialsthat may be used include acrylics, polycarbonate, polyetherimide,polysulfone, polyphenylsulfone, styrenes, polyurethane, polyethylene,Teflon or any other appropriate medical grade plastic. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the treatment device is comprisedof an acrylic plastic.

In the monocyte treatment apparatus, the leukocyte preparation flowsthrough narrow channels. Narrow channels are used to increase theprobability and frequency of monocyte contact with the interior plasticsurface of the treatment apparatus. The narrow channels also result inflow patterns through the treatment apparatus which impose shearingforces to monocytes transiently contacting or adhering to the interiorplastic surfaces of the treatment apparatus.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, one embodiment of a plastic monocytetreatment apparatus is shown. In this embodiment, the treatmentapparatus 30 comprises a top plate 32, a bottom plate 34 and side walls36 to form a box-like structure having a gap, G, between the top plate32 and the bottom plate 34 to form a narrow channel for flow of bloodleukocyte preparations. The top plate 32 and the bottom plate 34 arecomprised of a plastic material, such as acrylic or other suitablemedical grade plastic as described above.

The side walls 36 of the treatment apparatus may be comprised of thesame material as the top plate 32 and the bottom plate 34.Alternatively, the side walls 36 may be comprised of any material, suchas for example a rubber, that will form a seal between with the topplate and the bottom plate. The treatment apparatus may have any desiredouter shape. For example, the treatment apparatus may have roundedcorners, or it may be round or oval.

The top plate 32, bottom plate 34 and side walls 36 may be fastenedtogether using any fastening method known to those skilled in the art.For example, the top plate and bottom plate may be glued to the sidewalls. Alternatively, bolts, rivets or other fasteners may be used toassemble the top plate, bottom plate and side walls. Gaskets or othersealing materials may be used as necessary to seal the treatmentapparatus to prevent leakage.

Internal walls 38 may be provided to direct the flow of the monocytesthrough the device. The internal walls are typically made of the samematerial as the top plate and the bottom plate. The internal wallsdirect the flow of the leukocyte preparation through the treatmentapparatus, prevent channeling of flow through the treatment apparatus,and increase the plastic surface area that the monocytes are exposed towithin the treatment apparatus. The number of internal walls and thearrangement of the internal walls may be varied to achieve the desiredflow pattern through the treatment device. The available surface areamay also be increased by including one or more plastic dividers or postsin the flow path through the narrow channels of the plastic treatmentapparatus.

The total surface area available for monocyte interaction may also beincreased by passing leukocytes through a closed plastic treatmentapparatus containing plastic or metal beads. These beads increase thetotal surface area available for monocyte contact and may be composed ofiron, dextran, latex, or plastics such as styrenes or polycarbonates.Beads of this type are utilized commercially in several immunomagneticcell separation technologies and are typically between 0.001 and 10micrometers in size, although the invention is not limited in thisregard and any appropriate bead may be used. Unmodified beads or thosecoated with immunoglobulins may also be utilized in this embodiment.

Referring again to FIG. 8, the monocytes enter the treatment apparatusthrough an inlet connection 40, flow through the treatment apparatus andexit through an outlet connection 42. A pump (not shown) may be used toinduce flow through the treatment apparatus, or the treatment apparatusmay be positioned to allow gravity flow through the treatment apparatus.The inlet connection 40 and outlet connection 42 may be separatecomponents that are fastened to the treatment apparatus, or they may bemade of the same material as the treatment apparatus and formed as anintegral part of the top and bottom plates or the side walls.

The top plate 32 and the bottom plate 34 are spaced apart to form a gapG that is preferably between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm. The totalvolume of the treatment apparatus is preferably between 10 ml and about500 ml but may vary depending on the application and blood volume of themammalian species. Preferably, the leukocyte fraction is pumped throughthe treatment apparatus at flow rates of between about 10 ml/min andabout 200 ml/min. Shearing forces are typically in the range associatedwith mammalian arterial or venous flow but can range from 0.1 to 50dynes/cm². The invention is not limited in this regard, and the volumeof the treatment apparatus and the flow rate of the leukocytepreparation through the treatment apparatus may vary provided thatsufficient shearing forces are imposed on monocytes contacting the wallsof the treatment apparatus to induce monocyte differentiation intofunctional dendritic cells.

The interior surfaces of the treatment device may be modified toincrease the available surface area to which the monocytes are exposed.The increased surface area increases the likelihood that monocytes willadhere to the interior surface of the treatment apparatus. Also, themodified surface may influence the flow patterns in the treatmentapparatus and enhance the shearing forces applied to monocytes adheredto the interior surface by the fluid flowing through the treatmentapparatus. The interior surfaces of the treatment apparatus may bemodified by roughening the surface by mechanical means, such as, forexample, by etching or blasting the interior surfaces using silica,plastic or metal beads. Alternatively, grooves or other surfaceirregularities may be formed on the plastic surfaces duringmanufacturing. The enclosed exposure area through which the monocytesflow may also consist of a chamber whose contents include beads ofvarious compositions to maximize surface area exposure. The invention isnot limited in this regard, and the interior surface or contents of thetreatment apparatus may be by any other appropriate method known tothose skilled in the art.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art based uponthe teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made tothe above-described embodiments of the invention without departing fromits scope as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, this detaileddescription of preferred embodiments is to be taken in an illustrativeas opposed to a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing functional dendritic cellscomprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an extracorporeal quantity of asubject's blood; (b) treating the extracorporeal quantity of blood byleukapheresis to obtain a leukocyte concentrate comprising monocytes andplasma component containing proteins; (c) pumping the monocytes and theplasma component containing proteins together through a plastictreatment device, wherein a flow of the monocytes and plasma componentcontaining proteins through the plastic treatment device is stopped fora period of time to allow the plasma proteins to adhere to the surfaceof the plastic treatment device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theplastic treatment device is a photopheresis device.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the monocytes and plasma component containing proteinsare pumped through the treatment device for a period of between about 1minute and 60 minutes.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monocytesand plasma component containing proteins are pumped through the plastictreatment device at a flow rate between about 10 ml/minute to about 200ml/minute.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow rate duringpumping of the monocytes and plasma component containing proteinsthrough the plastic treatment device is a flow rate sufficient toproduce shearing forces in the plastic treatment device of between about0.1 to about 50 dynes/cm².
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasmacomponent containing proteins comprises at least one of fibronectin,fibrinogen, and vitronectin.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of: (d) incubating the monocytes and plasmacomponent containing proteins for a sufficient time after treatment inthe plastic treatment device to allow the formation of functionaldendritic cells.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein in step (d) thetreated monocytes and plasma component containing proteins are incubatedin the presence of apoptotic or inactive disease effector cells for asufficient time to allow dendritic cells to phagocytize apoptotic orinactive disease effector cells.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein instep (d) the monocytes and plasma component containing proteins isincubated for up to 3 days.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein in step(d) the treated monocytes and plasma component containing proteins areincubated with at least one apoptotic disease effector agent, whereinthe disease effector agent is a disease-associated antigen.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the steps of adding aphotoactivatable agent to the blood before leukapheresis and arrangingthe plastic treatment device with a light source providing the lightnecessary to activate the photoactivatable agent.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein step (c) is carried out by (i) pumping approximatelythe first half of the monocytes and the plasma component containingproteins and the photoactivatable agent through the plastic treatmentdevice with the light source turned off or otherwise shielding the lightfrom the plastic treatment device to prevent light from activating thephotoactivatable agent, allowing the monocytes to interact with theinternal surfaces of the device to induce differentiation of themonocytes into dendritic cells, and storing the treated approximatelyfirst half in a blood bag; and (ii), after approximately the first halfof the monocytes and the plasma component containing proteins and thephotoactivatable agent is pumped through the plastic treatment device,pumping the second half of the fraction containing monocytes and theplasma component containing proteins and the photoactivatable agentthrough the plastic treatment device while turning the light source onto activate the photoactivatable agents and storing the treated secondhalf of the fraction in a second blood bag following treatment, or inthe first blood bag containing the treated approximately first half.